From Home to Museum, Seoul Architecture Tour

An Artistic Space with Traces of the Artist Intact

Various exhibitions, big and small, are taking place in the heart of Seoul. Some incorporate media while others merge new technology, like VR and AR, for an experiential exhibition. Unlike the art spaces that provide a modern, digital experience, there are a few museums that record the past in a more analogue approach. These museums are the very houses that famous artists used to live and work in, renovated as an exhibition space. The two most well-known museums are the house of Park No-soo, where the painter known for his unique style lived for forty-some years, and the house where Korea’s most representative sculptor, Choi Man Lin, resided for more than thirty years. Let’s travel to these home-turned-museums and experience what the artists left behind.

Museum Built upon 80-year History

#ParkNoSooMuseum #EclecticStyleHome

At the end of a quiet alley away from the hustle and bustle of Seochon is an old house. A white entrance gate stands witness to the years past with a two-story house peeking out from behind. It is the Park No-soo Museum. Pro-Japanese politician Yoon Deok-young built the house for his daughter in 1937, which later became painter Park No-soo’s house in 1973. Park No-soo, who devoted himself to art over the 40 years he lived in this house, donated it back to society along with his artwork. The historical residence was reborn as an art museum in 2013 through the Jongno Cultural Foundation.

The Park No-soo Museum is built in an eclectic style with a combination of Korean and western architecture. The gable roof* with exposed rafters echoes the traditional mood of Seochon’s scenery. Meanwhile, the house has a red and white facade with an added porch around the entrance, typical of western architecture, creating an interesting style. The ondol (underfloor heating system) and maru (wood flooring) covering the interior space give a sense of the quiet Korean traditional beauty. The Park No-soo Museum also has three chimneys rising from the roof and three fireplaces connected to it while capturing an overall balance of architectural styles from both sides of the world.

*Gable roof: A sloped roof in the shape of an upside down book, which has a very sharp angle with triangular walls on each side.

The old house is preserved in the same state as it was when Park No-soo lived there. The living room, kitchen, and even bathroom, were kept intact and used as an exhibition hall. In the studio, where the brushes and tools used by the artist are displayed, it is not hard to imagine Park No-soo in the room standing before a canvas working away. You can feel the long years that the aged residence has weathered in the dents and cracks everywhere and the creaking floors with each step. Despite its long history of 80 years, this well-maintained building was recognized for its cultural value and was registered Cultural Heritage Material No. 1 of Seoul in 1991.

There were several limitations in converting an old house into an art museum. As an exhibition hall, the Park No-soo Museum has a relatively small number of works compared to other art museums. However, the space itself becomes a work of art. This is especially true of the garden created with persimmon trees planted by Park and his carefully selected decorative stones. He personally selected and arranged each of his favorite stones to create a landscape in the garden as a work of art. In the quiet atmosphere of the old house and the coziness of the garden created by the painter's loving touch, visitors will encounter a different kind of artwork.

Address              34, Ogin 1-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Operation Hours  Daily 10:00 ~ 18:00 (Closed Mondays)

Museum for the Local Commutiny

#ChoiManLinMuseum #PublicArtGallery

Located in a quiet residential area of the Seongbuk-gu District, the straight contour of the Choi Man Lin Museum as it sits upon a sloping hill leave quite an impression. The arched entrance and column-shaped wall amid the red brick exterior complement one another, creating a gorgeous harmony of lines and curves. The elegant two-story, Western-style building was built in the 1970s. Here, sculptor Choi Man Lin created his world of art for about 30 years from 1988. Even with all its traces of artistry intact, it eventually grew to become the Choi Man Lin Museum with the help of the Seongbuk-gu District and EMA Architects.

Reborn as an art museum in 2019, this building contains the traces of sculptor Choi Man Lin, which were preserved through a remodeling method that protects the appearance of the existing building as much as possible. In addition to the exterior and skeleton of the building, the wooden ceiling, stairs, and arched doors that capture the essence of the Choi Man Lin Museum were left untouched. The interior, however, was emptied as much as possible, connecting the entire building as a single space, so that the artwork could be seen altogether. This building, which shows off its architectural beauty while maximizing its function as an art museum, won the Excellence Award at the 2020 Public Building Awards of Korea.

The interior exhibition hall is composed of assorted art pieces and a glimpse into the life of Choi Man Lin, a distinguished sculptor of Korea. Materials that present the artist's life and art views fill the interior space. Choi Man Lin’s Workspace, especially, utilizes furniture and tools used by the artist himself to reproduce his studio and is deeply saturated with his artistic vibe. Visitors can see and touch the furniture and tools used by the artist as they wander quietly through the space where the artist once lived, and with their whole body, experience the world of art from his perspective.

The works of Choi Man Lin also stand in the garden surrounded by weathered bricks. The water space sitting between the red brick wall and the outer wall of the building adds an element of vitality. The artworks scattered throughout the U-shaped garden naturally blend well with the seasonal plants, creating an ever-changing landscape of tranquility. Once steeped in the lifecycle of the artist, this place has now become a public art museum where you can comfortably admire the artistry of daily life.

Address              23, Solsaem-ro 7-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

Operation Hours  Daily 10:00 ~ 18:00 (Closed Sundays & Mondays)

Notes                 Unable to view from December 4, 2022 to March 2023 due to internal construction